Moving Stories comes to Dumfries and Galloway

16/10/2012

An exhibition telling how ten members of the Scottish public have connected with the Scottish Parliament to effect change opens in St John’s Town of Dalry, Dumfries and Galloway, today (Tuesday 16 October).

‘Moving Stories' has been travelling around Scotland since 2009, bringing a combination of photographic portraits and audio visual material to venues across the country. The exhibition tells of the experiences of ten people who have made a difference in devolved Scotland through petitions, placements and engaging with the Scottish Parliament.

“More than 200,000 people have already seen this exhibition as it has travelled across Scotland. I am delighted that it has now arrived in St John’s Town of Dalry, as it is important that the Scottish Parliament connects with the drive, inspiration and ambition of people around the country.

“There are many ways to get involved with the Parliament, whether it be through campaigning, submitting a petition or connecting with MSPs at a member-sponsored event or exhibition, and ‘Moving Stories’ aims to bring some of these methods to life.”

Marie Davie from the St John’s Town of Dalry Town Hall Management Committee said:

“Dalry Town Hall Management Committee is pleased to welcome the Scottish Parliament exhibition to the village. Hopefully, it will attract plenty of visitors to the Town Hall and highlight the Parliament’s accessibility to ordinary people.”

Background

The Moving Stories exhibition will remain on display at St John’s Town of Dalry Town Hall until Thursday 1 November.

The ten people featured in the exhibition are:

John Muir, West of Scotland, submitted a petition on tackling knife crime following the death of his son. “I think that the public in Greenock and surrounding areas did recognise that the situation that Damian found himself in could have been their son or their daughter…something’s got to change.”

Amal Azzudin, Glasgow, campaigned against the practice of dawn raids on failed asylum seekers. “What the campaign has achieved more than anything is raising awareness…that was all we could do.”

Bob Reid, South of Scotland, submitted a petition to establish Off-Road Motorbike Facilities. “I am a great believer that there is a key to every young person, no matter what their problems are… give them a new challenge, something they can relate to, something they can belong to.”

Rebecca Brown, Central Scotland, carried out a work placement at her local MSP constituency office. “The realisation that politics is everything. You don’t really have an option…you really should be involved, it’s going to affect you anyway.”

Gemma Mackintosh, Highlands and Islands, campaigns for improved support for those living in Scotland with a visual impairment. “I am one of the examples of many people with additional needs who have been failed by the education system. I want to change the system and how they deal with children with visual impairments.”

Tina McGeever, Highlands and Islands, submitted an e petition on ability to access cancer drugs on NHS. “We decided that we were going to start a campaign, although the word campaign didn’t really come into it at the time. Michael wrote a letter and I fired it off to everyone on my email and asked them to send it to their MSPs, so that was the start.”

Walter Baxter, North East Scotland, organised a petition objecting to the merging of specialist care units for people suffering a brain haemorrhage. “Having a brain injury is a very difficult scenario to go through, not only for yourself, but for the people who are looking after you. There is very little aftercare for people with brain injuries.”

Reverend Iain MacDonald, Highlands and Islands, led Time for Reflection in the Scottish Parliament. “People here are thoroughly engaged with community, with social justice issues. A real community is defined by how it looks after its most needy.”

John Macleod, Lothian, lodged two petitions on Gaelic matters and is heavily involved in Gaelic and Gaelic cultural matters in Edinburgh. “What was behind the campaign was the need for special status for the language to enable sustainable developments for the future.

Claire Ewing, Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament. “Politics is everywhere and everything but young people don’t see that…
If you want it then you’ll fight for it…you need to believe in yourself and believe in what you’re doing.”